​Quieter offseason has Cowboys focused on the right things – Todd Archer, ESPNThis is exactly what the Cowboys needed.“There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal,” Stephen Jones said.It was another perfect only with the Cowboys moment where contract negotiations have become a never-ending story.In 2023, All-Pro right guard Zack Martin held out of a portion of training camp looking to renegotiate his contract. In 2024, the talks surrounded the futures of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb with the Pro Bowl wide receiver missing most of training camp before an extension was reached. Prescott’s record $60 million annual deal would be agreed to on the morning of the season opener.And then last year, the mess that surrounded Micah Parsons‘ contract saga that eventually saw the All-Pro pass rusher traded to the Green Bay Packers a week before the 2025 season started.It all pointed to more drama in 2026.But Pickens, who will make $27.3 million on the tag, attended the mandatory minicamp in June and said he will not hold out of training camp. July 15, the deadline for Pickens to sign a long-term extension, came and went with barely a note.It was like a balloon that flitters away when the air is released. The potential of drama was gone.Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Primer: Five biggest storylines heading into Oxnard – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-TelegramThings to keep an eye on.New line of defenseIt’s a new year, and it’s a brand-new defense under new coordinator Christian Parker. And while there is quite a bit we can pull from his press availabilities about how much the unit will see change, it’s tough to truly envision it until it hits the field.How has he solved the communication problems that plagued the unit last season? How will the 3-4 scheme find consistent pressure? Who will hold the bulk of the responsibilities in the secondary? Those questions might not get full answers in Oxnard, but the on-field product that we will see will offer a ton of insight into the unit that Parker has constructed over the past six months.Personnel-wise, there are a lot of new faces with things to prove. Rashan Gary was traded from the only NFL team he’s known (Green Bay) in April. Jalen Thompson arrives with the biggest free agent contract in team history. Caleb Downs walks into the NFL with sky-high expectations, and fellow first-round pick Malachi Lawrence will be looked at for a premium role as well. After poor linebacker play in 2025, Dee Winters is back in DFW to see if he can be the solution in the middle.The expectations remain the same on offense. On defense, the level of play has to take a significant step forward. How far has it come? We’ll at least get a head start on answering that question in the next month.2) Is Dak Prescott a legitimate MVP candidate for 2026? Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.comWill Dak Prescott have himself in the MVP conversation this season?Patrik: It tickles me to see some people act as if this questio